The last piano John Lennon ever played before his death will be performed on for the first time in 30 years.

The New England Piano Company upright, which has been on display at The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool since 2015, was used by Lennon at the Record Plant studios in New York while recording his final album, Double Fantasy, released shortly before his death in 1980.

Brad Kella, winner of Channel 4's The Piano, will perform his own arrangement of the iconic Lennon song "Imagine" at the museum later.

Kella, 24, shared with the BBC that he's been a Beatles fan since childhood, growing up in Bootle and later Fazakerley in North Liverpool. He said, "It's something that's embedded in anyone from the city. It's just an honour to be able to say I've touched the same instrument. I think it's the last one he played before his death, so to follow in those footsteps is an incredible honour."

The piano is notable for its "honky-tonk" sound, achieved by attaching tacks to its hammers. It was also used by other legendary artists, including Bob Dylan, Pete Townshend, and Don McLean for his American Pie sessions.

Lennon used the piano on multiple tracks for his album Walls and Bridges, including the duet "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" with Elton John. He also played it during a session on December 8, 1980, as he worked on Yoko Ono's song Walking on Thin Ice. Just hours later, Lennon was tragically shot by Mark Chapman outside his home in the Dakota Building in New York.

Since 2015, the piano has been part of The Beatles Story exhibition at Liverpool's Albert Dock, installed to mark what would have been Lennon's 75th birthday. Reports suggest the instrument hasn't been played for any recording or performance since the mid-1990s.

Kella, a former scholarship student at Paul McCartney's LIPA performing arts school, was discovered playing piano at the Liverpool One shopping center by producers for The Piano, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. After auditioning, he won the show and later dedicated his first single, Eve and Frank, to his foster parents.

Reflecting on his rapid rise, Kella said, "Two years ago, on my birthday, I was working on roofs with my girlfriend's uncle. Now, two years later, on my birthday, I'm playing John Lennon's piano. Things have changed so quickly."

Affluent India's love for 'fur babies' fuels pet care industry boom

For Neha Bapna, nothing matters more than her dog Muffin.Every time she travels by train across Indi

How an old school photo reunited childhood sweethearts after 85 years

Two childhood sweethearts have been reunited after more than 85 years, thanks to a decades-old schoo

Last surviving pilot of the battle of Britain dies at 105

The last surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain in World War II has passed away at the age of 10

First appearans of King Charles after short hospital visit

King Charles has made his first public appearance since being hospitalized following temporary side

'There's a new path for girls breaking the rules,' says Chappell Roan

After a year that saw her rise from breakout artist to award-winning star, Chappell Roan attributes

Mother and Son Graduate College Together

Mother and Son Graduate College Together After Making the Promise Almost 20 Years AgoMost of the tim

Priest's Decades of Baptisms Declared Invalid over One Wrong Word

Priest's Decades of Baptisms Declared Invalid over One Wrong WordA Catholic priest, Father Andres A

Turkey arrests Istanbul Mayor in what opposition describes as a 'Coup'

Turkey has detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, on c

×

Close